A friend of mine wrote a blog
recently about physical scars that we all carry that are the result of an
earlier injury or operation. They are a reminder of some trauma that happened
to our physical body. I got to thinking about the INNER SCARS we all have that
don’t show up as easily, but are visible through our outward behavior and body
language. Unfortunately inner wounds don’t heal as easily as many physical
scars do.
Skin cancer surgery left
a long scar on a family member’s face recently where about 15 stitches were
required to close the wound properly. Without this procedure, the cancer would
have grown larger and more invasive. As time passes, the wound is healing and
hardly visible any more. Is this true of inner
wounds that we all have whether from our own misbehaviors or
interactions with others?
It’s
impossible to get through life without some emotional trauma, heartbreak or
disappointment whether it’s a rebellious child, marriage problems, being
single, childless or loss of job. Others seem to have perfect life until you
get to know them well enough, then they will reveal their personal
disappointments. The newspapers and TV are full of these events daily. Some so
traumatic that you wonder how people survive. The human spirit is quite
resilient and can heal with time
and loving support from others. Perhaps that’s the silver lining in all the hurricanes, floods, and natural
disasters that take place. You see the kindness and caring for others that is
manifested by the loving service given to survivors to start over and repair
the damages. Perhaps that’s part of the plan for this earthly experience, to
assist others and our selves in healing, continuing on. Are there inner scars
you have that haven’t healed?
From
teaching classes on writing your life story, I’ve found that capturing in your
journal or biography the lessons learned from each trauma in your life is
therapeutic. It’s a gift that
comes from enduring and overcoming whatever your challenge is or was. Not
getting stuck in regrets but becoming an observer looking back at what happened
from the viewpoint of maturity and time that has past. Events at the time that
were earth shattering can sometimes become family stories than bind and bring
humor to the challenge of growing up together. NEXT TIME: Tell Your Story.